Coolie-type hat



' Nov. 11, 1969 5. J. PEHAM 3,477,066

COOLIE-TYPE HAT Filed Aug. 4, 19s? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR Z F/ G. 6 [NGZ'ZBERI' d- Pf/MM By B W;

ATTORNEY NOV. 11, 1969 J, PEHAM 3,477,066

COOLIE-TYPE HAT Filed Aug. 4, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [WGA'LBERT J. PF/MM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,477,066 COOLIE-TY PE HAT Engelbert J. Peharn, 1263 Donahue Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 55104 Filed Aug. 4, 1967, Ser. No. 658,529 Int. Cl. A42b 1/02, 1/18 U.S. Cl. 2177 2 Claims we... may.

ABSTRACT (IF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an improvement in coolietype hat and deals particularly with a generally conically shaped hat provided with a sun shield incorporated in the body of the hat.

Conical hats of the general shape worn by the coolies in oriental countries are produced in some volume for use in this country. Many such hats are formed of woven fibrous material and are made generally similar to those used in the Orient. However, recently it has been proposed to mold hats of this shape from expandable plastic material in a die which shapes the outer surface of the hat to give the appearance of the woven type hats. Hats of this type may be made at a relatively low cost and accordingly can be produced at a price low enough so that they are almost a disposable item.

One of the difficulties with such hats lies in the fact that they extend downwardly on all sides of the head and accordingly shield the eyes to a greater extent than is actually necessary. Accordingly, it has been proposed to incorporate in such a hat a sun visor or sun shield which permits softened rays of the sun to pass through a portion of the hat near the brim thereof. This sun shield may either be in the form of an elongated strip of colored transparent plastic, or may be in the form of a plurality of openings covered by the transparent plastic material. As a result, the wearer may actually use the sun shield in place of sun glasses if it is desired to do so.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a hat of the type described having a sun shield incorporated in the hat near the brim thereof which may act as a decoration to the hat, and at the same time may allow some degree of illumination beneath the brim of the hat. The opening or openings may be varied in shape to give the appearance of a pair of sun glasses or separate eye shields, thereby enhancing the appearance of the article.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a structure in which the glare shield may be easily and quickly assembled in place, a single colored transparent plastic element preferably covering the opening or openings in the hat. The marginal edges of the transparent plastic member may either be adhered in a recess shaped to fit the transparent plastic member, or the plastic member forming the glare shield may be shaped so as to snap into place and be held by friction.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a coolie hat including glare shield members incorporated therein.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a coolie hat 3,477,066 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 showing glare shield openings incorporated therein which are of a somewhat different outlook in shape than the openings indicated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a detailed view of a portion of the inside front wall of the hat, showing the glare shield underlying the openin gs.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the front portion of the hat, the position of the section being indicated by the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view substantially on a vertical plane through one of the glare shield openings in the hat, the position of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to the FIGURE 4 showing a modified form of glare shield construction.

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view similar to FIG- URE 2 but showing a somewhat different form of a glare opening from that illustrated in FIGURES l and 2.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view through the glare shield opening, the position of the section being indicated by the line 33 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view similar to FIGURES 2 and 7 but showing a somewhat different form of a glare shield opening construction.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view through a portion of the glare shield opening indicated in FIGURE 9, the position of the section being indicated by the line 10-10 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE. 11 is a substantially vertical sectional view through the eye shield construction on FIGURES 8 and 9, the position section being indicated by the line 1111 of FIGURE 8.

The hat A is preferably generally similar in shape to a Woven hat, being used by coolies in the Orient. The hat includes a substantially conical body portion 10 which tapers substantially to a point 11 at its upper extremity, and which includes a slightly enlarged peripheral rim 12. The outer surface of the hat is molded to conform in appearance to the outer surface of a woven hat so that from a short distance, it is difiicult to distinguish the molded hats from the original article. The hat is preferably formed of a material such as polystyrene which is placed in a mold in granular form, and which expands with heat to fill the mold and to produce the desired shape. The hat is substantially larger in diameter than the head of the wearer to shade the upper portion of the head.

As is indicated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a pair of spaced openings 13 are provided in the hat body 10 adjoining the rim 12. In the form illustrated in FIGURE 1, these openings of 13 are generally tear shaped in outline with the larger radius ends 14 in closely spaced relation and the short radius ends 15 relatively widely spaced. A generally rectangular recess 16 is provided on the inner surface of the hat body 10, the recess 16 completely encircling the eye openings 13. A sun visor 17, preferably in the form of a transparent colored plastic material, is secured in the recess 16 to underlie the openings 13. As a result, the light rays passing through the openings 13 are softened and tinted by the plastic material. In place of the colored plastic a somewhat flexible film of polarized transparent material may be used.

The structure shown in FIGURES 2 through 5 of the drawings are illustrated somewhat more in detail. The structure shown in these figures may be considered identical to that illustrated in the FIGURE 1 with the exception of the shape of the light openings. The openings 19 shown in the conical body 20 of the hat B are generally octagonal in form, these openings being elongated transversely or in a direction substantially parallel to the hat brim or rim 21.

As is best indicated in FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings, the rear surface 22 of the hat body 20 is provided with an elongated generally rectangular recess 23 which is of a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the plastic being used as the sun shield. This plastic sheet 24 is normally fiat, but is bent when in position due to the shape of the inner surface of the hat body. The plastic strip 24 is preferably cemented or adhered to the hat in coated areas 25 and 26 indicated by the dotted areas. The areas 25 are at opposite ends of the transparent plastic strips 24, while the areas 26 is intermediate the ends thereof.

As indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the plastic strip and the recess 23 into which it fits is of larger area than the openings 19, and completely underlies these openings. As a result, the light rays entering through the openings are tinted and softened by the plastic through which the rays pass.

FIGURE 6 of the drawings is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 through a hat C which is similar in shape unto the hats A and B. The hat C is provided with a pair of openings 27 extending in spaced relation thereto, the centers of these openings, as in the case of the openings 13 and 19, being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the centers of the eyes so, that the opensing may be used to look through much in the manner of a pair of sun glasses. Preferably, a recess 29 is provided in the inner surface 30 of the hat C to accommodate the peripheral edges 31 of the plastic sun shield which is indicated in general by the numeral 32.

In the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 6, the plastic transparent shield 32 is provided with a pair of externally convex eye shield areas 33 which are encircled by peripheral walls 34 which are extremelly grooved or V-shaped in a form as indicated at 35. The peripheries of the shield portions 33 are of slightly greater dimensions than the openings 27, and the material is such that the shield portions 33 may be pushed through the openings 27 and will snap into place as indicated in FIGURE 6 in the drawings so that the sun shield is frictionally engaged in the openings. This structure of shield 32 has the advantage that it is simpler to assemble in the hat than in the structure shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings. However, the sun shields 32 must be preformed by section molding or other means into the shape illustrated.

In FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings, I disclose another modified form of construction, the hat being indicated in general by the letter D. In this arrangement, a single elongated aperture 39 is provided in the front of the hat body 40 adjoining the peripheral rim 41 thereof. The elongated sun shield 42 of transparent colored or tinted plastic is shown engaged in a recess 43 in the outer surface of the hat body 40 encircling the aperture 39. The transparent shield 42 is cemented or adhered to the hat body along the marginal edges 44 where the periphery of the shield 42 overlies the portion of the hat body 40 at the base of the groove 39.

The hat E illustrated in FIGURES 9, 10, and 11 of the irawings differs from the previous constructions slightly in the shape of the sun shield opening in the body 45 of the hat. The elongated opening 46 in the hat body 45 is located close to and substantially parallel to the hat brim 47. The single opening 46 includes a pair of opposed opening portions 49, the upper edges of which are slightly concave as indicated at 50, and the lower portions 51 of which are connected by a central upwardly humped portion 52 simulating the bridge portion of sun glasses or the like.

The marginal portions of the transparent eye shield portion 53 are indicated at 54 and extend into a recess 55 in the inner surface 56 of the hat body 45. The periphery of the projecting portion 57 generally follows the periphery of the aperture 46 in which the glare shield is engaged. However, spaced top portions 59 at the top of the shield 53, and spaced bottom portions 60 at the bottom of the shield 53 extend above and below the corresponding portions of the shield aperture 46 so as to frictionally hold the shield in place. In other words, opposite ends 61 of the shield, as well as the center portions of the upper side 50 of. the aperture and the bridge portion 52 of the aperture snugly fit within the corresponding wall portions of the aperture 46. However, as indicated in FIGURE 11 of the drawings, the spaced upper and lower peripheral portions 59 and 60 of the projecting shield portions 57 are connected to the marginal portions 55 of the shield by V-shaped or grooved connections 62 and 63 which may be forced through the upper and lower edges of the aperture and snap into place to hold the shield 53 in the position illustrated.

I claim:

1. A hat including:

a substantially rigid conical body of opaque plastic foam having a diameter at its lower end which is adapted to be substantially greater than the length of width of a normal size human head.

an elongated recess formed in the inner surface of said conical body near the periphery thereof, the recess being elongated in a direction generally parallel to the periphery of said body and adjacent to the periphery,

a pair of closely spaced openings through said body communicating with said recess and spaced inwardly from the periphery of said recess,

said recess being substantiall straight in transverse section and substantially arcuate in longitudinal section,

an elongated shield comprising a strip of transparent tinted material of a type capable of softening light rays spanning said openings,

the ends of said strip engaging the ends of said recess and secured therein to hold the shield in arcuate position and to fit in surface contact with the portion of said body at the base of said recess, the recess having curved upper and lower edges, the ends of said recess being closer to the lower end of said body than the central portion thereof.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including cement securing said strip to said body to the base of said recess.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,212,842 1/1917 Stronge 210 1,569,658 1/ 1926 Levinson 2-195 1,754,419 4/1930 Drager. 2,409,140 10/1946 Malcom. 2,605,777 8/1952 Berman. 3,245,088 4/1966 Robison 2l77 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 324,365 3/1903 France. 1,016,444 8/1952 France.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner 

